Skate board Lighting System

ABSTRACT

A skateboard lighting system is provided which is mountable to a skateboard having a deck, a deck top surface, a deck bottom surface and a pair of supporting trolleys, each trolley being mounted to the deck bottom surface and defining a trolley wheel axis. The lighting system comprises a lighting system frame mountable to the deck bottom surface proximate a first trolley and at least one light mounted to the frame, the light including a first lighting element arrayed to direct light along a light axis, the light axis being substantially parallel to the trolley wheel axis. A power source is provided in electrical communication with the light.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention is directed to a lighting system for skateboardsand, more particularly, to an under board lighting system that canilluminate portions of the skateboard and the adjacent ground area.

Skateboarding is becoming more and more popular with skate board parksbeing created on school grounds and public areas. Skateboarding alsoremains a popular activity in other areas as well, such as bike paths,sidewalks, parking areas, etc.

Given their small size, and propensity to flip, crash or be subject toharsh conditions of use, skateboards are typically constructed assimple, sturdy products. Use of enhanced features on skateboards hassometimes produced unsatisfactory results, as the features may not standup well to the rugged use that many skateboards experience and maydetract from the balance or performance of the skateboard. However, itremains desirable to provide for enhanced features, such as lightfeatures, useful to enhance visibility of skateboards to others on thesame trails, walkways or other areas.

For example, under low light conditions bikers or joggers might not seean approaching skateboarder on the same trail until the skateboarder isrelatively close. As such, it is desirable to provide a skateboardlighting system that enhances the visibility of a skateboarder to otherskateboarders as well as pedestrians, cyclists, etc. As noted above, itis further desirable that any such lighting system be constructed in amanner that will provide little or no reduction in performance orbalance of a skateboard, and is rugged enough to stand up to crashes,flips and other typical conditions of skateboard use.

In addition to safety advantages, skateboard lighting system can alsoprovide aesthetic features that may be desirable to skateboard ownersand to observers of skateboarding activities. Moreover, the use ofdifferent types of lighting bulbs/fixtures allows for creation ofdifferent types of lighting patterns and effects, as may be desirablefor safety, aesthetic or identification purposes. Similarly, thelighting system may cooperate with other skateboard components to createadditional aesthetic effects, e.g. illuminating translucent wheels.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide skateboards with durablelighting system that will not detract from performance or durability ofthe skateboard, yet enhance visibility and safety, and allow for otheraesthetic effects. These and other objects and advantageous may beachieved through use of the present invention, which is described belowin relation to the presently preferred embodiments.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A skateboard lighting system is provided which is mountable to askateboard having a deck, a deck top surface, a deck bottom surface anda pair of supporting trolleys, each trolley being mounted to the deckbottom surface and defining a trolley wheel axis. The lighting systemcomprises one or more lighting system frame(s) mountable to the deckbottom surface proximate the trolley. At least one light mounted to theframe to illuminate the ground area about and/or below the skateboard. Apower source is provided in electrical communication with the light.

The light may include a first lighting element arrayed to direct lightalong a light axis, the light axis being substantially parallel to thetrolley wheel axis.

The lighting system may include a switch mounted to the frame and inelectrical communication with the light and the power source, the switchbeing operative to regulate illumination of the light.

The light may further include one or more second lighting element(s),arrayed to direct light in a direction(s) substantially transverse tothe trolley wheel axis, to illuminate a ground area below and/or aboutthe skateboard. A plurality of second lighting elements may be arrayedradially about the light axis.

The lighting system may further include a radio frequency receiver inelectrical communication with the light, the receiver being operative toregulate illumination of the light in response to receipt of radiofrequency signals from a handheld remote control. The receiver may bemounted to the frame.

The skateboard may include a pair of translucent skateboard wheels, andthe light may be directed toward the translucent wheels to illuminatethem.

In one embodiment the power source is a battery power source which maybe mounted to the frame.

In another embodiment the power source may be an electrical generatorconnected to one or more of the skateboard wheels to generate electricalpower in response to rotation of one or more of the skateboard wheels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skateboard having an exemplaryskateboard lighting system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the skateboard and the skateboardlighting system;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the skateboard lighting system frame andassociated components;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one configuration of the skateboardlighting system and skateboard trolley;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an exemplary skateboard lighting system;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternative configuration of theskateboard lighting system and skateboard trolley; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the configuration shown at FIG. 6, inassembled form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein, including various ways of types of light fixtures andvarious ways of mounting the light fixtures to the lighting system frameand/or the lighting system frame to the skateboard. Further, the variousfeatures of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or invarying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limitedto the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of theclaims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary skateboard lighting system in accordancewith the present invention, mounted to a skateboard. As shown,skateboard 10 includes top surface 11 supporting a rider 18, and bottomsurface 13, to which skateboard trolleys 15, 17 are mounted. As furthershown at FIG. 2, trolley 15 includes trolley frame 19 and wheels 21,defining a trolley wheel axis 22. The trolley further includes trolleybase plate 16, which is secured to bottom surface 13 by fasteners, suchas fasteners 57, 59. As will be apparent to those of ordinary skill inthe art, various types of fasteners can be used to secure trolley 15 toskateboard bottom surface 13.

As shown in more detail at FIGS. 2-4, a lighting system frame 20 issecured to skateboard 10 proximate trolley 15. As shown at FIG. 1, eachtrolley may incorporate a lighting system operative to illuminate aroundareas below and/or about either side of the trolley, e.g. illuminatedground areas 22, 24, 26, 28. Depending on the orientation of the lightsand the type of lights used, the illuminated ground areas may be ofdifferent shapes, patterns and colors as may be desired. In thepresently preferred embodiment the lights 23, 25 may be implemented assuper high flux SMT LED bulbs having five or nine LEDs, such as theModel 194 168 WSW 225 SMT Tower/Tower II bulbs marketed by CTLUMINATION,of Higley, Ariz., available at www.superlumination.com. Such bulbsinclude a single light element, LED 29 at the end of the bulb that canbe used to direct light axially from the bulb along a light axis 32,which is substantially parallel to the trolley wheel axis 22. Each lightmay also include a plurality of side facing LEDs 27 that can be used todirect light radially from the bulb, i.e. substantially transverse tothe light axis. The lights may be in clear or colored as desired, andare preferably sufficiently small to be mountable under a skateboard.Lights approximately 10 mm in diameter and 32 mm in length have beenfound to be suitable.

Such lights each include four to eight light side facing light elements27 radially arrayed about the light axis 32, and an end light 29oriented to direct light axially along the light axis 32. As used in thepresently preferred embodiment, the axially disposed light elements(LED's) 27 direct light towards the lower surface 13 of the skateboard10, as well as the ground area below and about the skateboard. The endlight 29 illuminates the ground area further from the skateboard 10. Thecombination of end lights and radially arrayed lights may be oriented todefine different patterns of light and shadow areas that travel with themovement of the skateboard, and vary with the orientation or tilt of theskateboard.

In one construction of the present invention, the skateboard wheels maybe formed of a translucent material that can be illuminated as a resultof proximity and orientation of the lights 27, 29. Other effects may beimplemented using alternative lights and components of skateboard 10.

In the presently preferred embodiment the lights in other components ofthe lighting system are arrayed on a frame 20, which is formed toreceive adjacent portions of the trolley frame 19, and is secured to theskateboard bottom surface 13 using the same fasteners used to secure thetrolley base plate 16 to the skateboard. Such an arrangement,illustrated at FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7 allows the lighting system to beretrofit to a skateboard without the need to use separate fasteners orotherwise modify the skateboard. Moreover, the construction of frame 20positioned in a location that is relatively well protected from damageduring normal use, and makes use of trolley frame 19 to enhance thestructural integrity of the lighting system.

FIG. 3 further illustrates the construction of a lighting system 10 inaccordance with the present invention. The lighting system includesframe 20, to which the electrical components of the lighting system maybe mounted. Lights 23, 25 may be mounted on opposing side walls 31, 33of frame 20. Power source 35, typically implemented as a battery powerpack, may also be mounted on the side wall 33 of frame 20. Frame topwall 39 is formed to define aperture 41 and recess 43, to allowcomponents of the trolley 15 to pass therethrough. Receiver 37 may bemounted on an inside surface of sidewall 33, or on the inside surface oftop wall 39.

The lighting system frame 20 also includes switch 45, disposed on sidewall 31. Switch 45 is operative to enable or disable the lightingsystem, in response to remote control signals from remote control 30(FIG. 1).

The lighting system frame 20 further includes a pair of flanges, 47, 49,which are matable to a surface area(s) of trolley 15. The flanges 47, 49may be disposed above or below trolley mounting plate 16. In theconstruction shown at FIG. 4, the flanges 47, 49 are disposed abovetrolley mounting plate 16. Alternatively, as shown at FIGS. 6,7, theflanges 47, 49 may be disposed below the trolley base plate 16, adjacentthe skateboard lower surface 13. In both embodiments, the frame 20 isengaged to the skateboard and the trolley mounting plate by fasteners57, 59.

Accordingly, the lighting system of the present invention may be securedto the skateboard by disengaging trolley fasteners and locating thelighting system frame such that frame apertures 53 are in registry withtrolley apertures 55, then resecuring the fasteners to hold the frame inplace.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary circuit to implement the lighting systemof the present invention. As shown therein, power pack 35 provides powerfor the system which is enabled by switch 45. Once switch 45 is closed,the lights will operate in response to radio frequency signalstransmitted by remote control 30 and received by receiver 37. Thereceiver 37 then turns lights 23, 25 on and off in response to operationof remote control 30. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill,the lighting system may operate without the use of a remote control 30and receiver 37. In such case, the lights would illuminate in responseto operation of switch 45. Lights 23, 25 may also be implemented asblinking lights, or blinking circuitry may be incorporated in thelighting system, to provide additional light effects.

1. A skateboard lighting system mountable to a skateboard having a deck,a deck top surface, a deck bottom surface and a pair of supportingtrolleys, each trolley being mounted to the deck bottom surface anddefining a trolley wheel axis, the lighting system comprising: a) alighting system frame mountable to the deck bottom surface proximate afirst trolley; b) at least one light mounted to the frame, the lightincluding a first lighting element arrayed to direct light along a lightaxis, the light axis being substantially parallel to the trolley wheelaxis, and c) a power source in electrical communication with the light.2. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a switch mountedto the frame, the switch being in electrical communication with thelight and the power source, for enabling illumination of the light. 3.The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the light further includes asecond lighting element being arrayed to direct light in a directionsubstantially transverse to the trolley light axis.
 4. The system asrecited in claim 3 wherein the light includes a plurality of secondlighting elements, the second lighting elements being arrayed radiallyabout the light axis.
 5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein thesecond lighting elements are arrayed to direct light to a ground areabelow the skateboard deck bottom surface.
 6. The system as recited inclaim 3 wherein the second lighting elements are further operative todirect light to illuminate a ground area about the skateboard.
 7. Thesystem as recited in claim 1 further comprising a radio frequencyreceiver in electrical communication with the light, the receiver beingoperative to regulate illumination of the light in response to receiptof radio frequency signals from a remote control.
 8. The system asrecited in claim 7 wherein the receiver is mounted to the frame.
 9. Thesystem as recited in claim 1 wherein the first trolley includes a pairof translucent skateboard wheels, wherein the light is directed toilluminate the translucent wheels.
 10. The system as recited in claim 1wherein the power source is mounted to the frame.
 11. The system asrecited in claim 10 wherein the power source is a battery power source.12. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first trolley includesa pair of skateboard wheels and the power source is an electricalgenerator connected to one of the pair of skateboard wheels, theelectrical generator being operative to generate electrical power inresponse to rotation of the one of the pair of skateboard wheels. 13.The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first trolley includes amounting plate for mounting the first trolley to the deck bottomsurface, and wherein the lighting system frame is engaged to themounting plate.
 14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein a portionof the lighting system frame extends intermediate the deck bottomsurface and the trolley mounting plate.
 15. The system as recited inclaim 1 wherein the trolley defines a trolley frame, which is extendablethrough the lighting system frame.
 16. The system as recited in claim 1wherein the lighting system frame and first trolley are mountable to thedeck bottom surface by a common set of fasteners.
 17. The system asrecited in claim 1 further including first and second lights mounted onopposing sides of the lighting system frame, the first and second lightsbeing arrayed to direct light along the light axis, in substantiallyopposite directions.